| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Feds Find Ashes in Guta Group Search
The investigative department of the Main Department of the Interior Ministry for the Central Federal District (Russian abbreviation GU MVD TsFO) conducted a search of the main office of the Guta Group yesterday and confiscated documents and computer hard drives. All main divisions of the group are headquartered in the building, which is located on Orlikovsky Lane in Moscow. An investigator stated that an investigation of “embezzlement” and “smuggling” was underway and declined to comment further.
Several investigators in plain clothes tried to enter the company's office at around 3:00 but were turned away by the company's security after a scuffle. The investigators returned an hour later with uniformed policemen armed with machineguns, by which time there was a strong burning smell in the building. Investigators are convinced that Guta employees were burning documents. The company's security guards will be charged under article 19.3 of the Administrative Code (“Resisting a Legal Demand by a Policeman”) and the security company's license will be reviewed by the Moscow police. Investigators spent five hours in the Guta offices.
Guta Group was founded in 1998. Seventy-five percent of the holding is owned by United Candymakers (Obyedinennye konditery), which incorporates the Red Octber, Red Front and Babaevsky candymakers. It owns controlling packages in the Savoy Hotel and Marina Club sports complex, as well as Guta Insurance, Guta Development, Guta Clinic and Guta Estate. Neither Guta nor investigators were willing to disclose what division of the group is under investigation.
A source familiar with the situation told Kommersant that the search was connected with “a land raid outside Moscow.” Moscow-area developers report hearing similar explanations, but no one was able to say what land was involved. Insurance sources said that the action was unrelated to the insurance business.
Guta is developing Bolotnoi Island, where the Red October plant is located, in the center of Moscow, and it has already built about 100,000 sq. m. of housing on the city's fringes. Its first development outside Moscow, Sareevo, near Zvenigorod, has been sold out. It is reported that the company owns 60 ha. near the Porechye state farm in the same area.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 18, 2007
|
|
|
